Primarily grounded in the disciplines of art history and archaeology, our teaching and faculty research in this area are oriented toward close study of objects, built environments, and related visual and textual materials in order to understand history and culture in China. “China” is defined with full consideration of its shifting territories, diverse ethnic groups, multicultural and polyglot regimes, and vibrant exchanges with many other regions. The faculty strengths lie in the arts of the Middle Period (ca. 900-1370), antiquarianism, the history of ornament, elite textiles and dress, Qing court arts (1644-1911), and Sino-European exchanges.
Our courses cover broad historical periods from the Bronze Age through the early twentieth century. They range from surveys of specific periods or media (e.g., metalwork, ceramic, lacquer, and textiles), to thematic topics such as gardens and interiors, ritual objects, and Western taste in Chinese art. Related BGC exhibitions and research projects in which students have been involved include Cloisonné: Chinese Enamels from the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, Design by the Book: Chinese Ritual Objects and the Sanli tu, and Antiquarianism and Intellectual Life in Europe and China, 1500-1800.
Our courses cover broad historical periods from the Bronze Age through the early twentieth century. They range from surveys of specific periods or media (e.g., metalwork, ceramic, lacquer, and textiles), to thematic topics such as gardens and interiors, ritual objects, and Western taste in Chinese art. Related BGC exhibitions and research projects in which students have been involved include Cloisonné: Chinese Enamels from the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, Design by the Book: Chinese Ritual Objects and the Sanli tu, and Antiquarianism and Intellectual Life in Europe and China, 1500-1800.
